urabn pre-vocational ​training school

Urban Pre Vocational Training ProgramBlack Men United is a non-profit, 501C3 certified organization dedicated to improving the economic and social conditions in Omaha with a focus on Eastern Omaha. Black Men United created the Urban Pre-Vocational Training program (UPVT) to support this goal. This program is an eight (8) week program designed to match the extreme demand for contract labor in Omaha with an educated supply of low-income and ex-offender workers. Nebraska Department of Education has certified this program as an adult education center . Black Men United is working in partnership with local union halls, public and non-profit workforce programs, re-entry organizations, the prison system, and local community stakeholders. This will ensure any barriers to employment students may face will be reduced or eliminated.Black Men United has completed the build out of the training facility. Courses are set to begin January 1, 2018The Urban Pre-Vocational Training Program creates a win/win solution for a variety of stakeholders. It will enhance the employability of students participating, which will in turn provide a greater opportunity for the students to find quality, living wage jobs. The program will reduce the unemployment rate and address issues of employment for ex-felons and other hard to employ individuals, benefit the Omaha community as a whole. It also provides a needed influx of contractor workers in a field where labor is in huge demand.Black Men United is well equipped to execute this program. Since 2015 Black Men United has been teaching an Intro to the Trades and Soft skills course in the Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility. During the pilot year of the program Black Men United trained 34 individuals and supported an additional 10 individuals currently incarcerated or having an ex-felon status. Of those not incarcerated eight were connected to a job opportunity, support in starting their own business or additional training. The UPVT program will be a much longer and extensive program. However, the targeted audience will be the same and Black Men United has demonstrated a committment to serve this audience. ​